Deep-sea construction



W. GRIESSER.

DEEP SEA CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. I920.

PatentedSept. 20,1921.

4 SHEETSSI'IEET I.

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1,391,380. PatentedSept. 20,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 vwewl oz Wanna W wad W. GRIESSER.

DEEP SEA CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAYVIS. 1920.

1,391,380. P entedSept- 20, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

W. GRIESSER.

DEEP SEA CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY15, 1920.

1,391,380.. PatentedSepfl 20, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

3 vwentoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM GRIESSER, 0F .l'OPLIN, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM C.GRIESSER, OF

I PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

, DEEP-SEA CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed Kay 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, WILHELM GRrEssER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,-residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State ofMissouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Deep-SeaConstructions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a protective and supporting construction foruse in forming wharves, piers, docks, seawalls, jetties, cofferdams andother similar constructions and adapted for installation or erection invarious bodies of water as seas, lakes, rivers, etc. The improvedconstruction may also be advantageously employed in building foundationsand for use in the construction of bridges and also as a supportingmeans for superstructures adapted to be maintained above a water levelor to be protected from water pressure, as for instance sea waves.

The primary object of my invention however, is to provide a novel,construction which may be readily built in deep water. To accomplishthis object, the vertical sup porting members of the structure aregradually sunk by being filled with a heavy plastic material such asconcrete, until they lodge on the sea bottom.

The distinguishing feature of the improved construction consists in theprovision of tubes, tanks, or hollow piles of cylindrica'l form whichare disposed vertically and adapted to be attached to each other bybraces or connectors of various forms which are so arranged that anautomatic settling or vertical "movement of the tubes, tanks, or pilesmay ensue relatively to irregularities of contour of the bottoms ofbodies of water in which the improved construction may be erected, theseveral tubes, tanks or hollow piles being so associated as to resistaccidental detachment by lateral strains brought to bear thereon, or bydirect front impacts of bodies of water. The tubes, cylinders or hollowpiles ma also be arranged to form a'wall of any s ape by properlydisposing and connecting the braces or other attaching devices therefor,and .in some instances a number of the tubes, cylinders or hollow ,50.

, tied to each other to form as a unit a pillar piles may be closelyassociated and strongly or pedestal. The tubes, c linders or piles afterbeing arranged in t e form desired Specification of Letters Patent.Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 381,538.

may be completely filled with cement or concrete 'to thereby strengthenand give the same material weight with obvious advantages in maintainingthe protective and supporting features of the improved construction, andmoreover, by thus completely fill-' ing the tubes, cylinders or pileswith cement the said components will be more firmly embedded on the seabottom and therefore sections on sections, as the successive sec-- tionssink under the weight of the concrete contained within the tubularmember and as may be required to obtain a uniform top level and also toso dispose the braces or connectors in relation to various parts of thetubes, cylinders, tanks, or piles as will give the best results from astrengthening and reinforcing standpoint.

The improved constructlon 1s illustrated in various forms in theaccompanying drawings, and therein Figure 1 is a sectional elevation ofa number of the units of the improved construction shown assembled andthe tubes, cylinders, tanks or piles in part fully depressed and in partin different stages of settling.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a number of the tubes, cylinders, tanks orpiles assembled in wall and supporting form and attached by variousforms of braces and connectors.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating two of the tubes, cylinders orpiles and a double bracing means therebetween.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown by Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation showing the bracing means in single form.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through interlocking bracing means andconnectors for use with the various arrangements of the tubes, cylindersor piles.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectionof a further modification ofassembling the parts of the bracin means.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic lan view showing the manner of assembling aplurality of the tubes, cylinders or piles as an inclosing wall or as asupport for a superstructure. The essential units of theimprovedconstruction comprise tubes, cylinders, tanks or hollow piles 5and braces or connectors 6 disposed between the units 5 for holding thelatter in upright position and also in some instances to contribute tothe formation of a water tight inclosure. In the structure as shown byFg. 1 the tubes, cylinders, or hollow piles constituting the units 5 arecomposed of a plurality of sections 7 which may be of various lengthsand also differ in diameter, the general dimensions of these units 5depending upon the'character of the structure of which the form a part.The units 5 and 6 as shown y Fig. 1 will have the appearance in to planview as shown in the upper art of ig. 2, each unit 5 being provided witha plurality of units 6 radiating from the outer sides thereof either atdiametrically'opposite points or at intervals between such diametricpoints'in accordance with the attachment thereto of the connectors orbracin means between the several units 5. The units 6, as shown moreclearly by Fig. 2, are in the form of I-beams which are connected to theouter sides of the units 5 in an suitable manner, and the sim plifiedattaching means or connectors, or units 6, as shown. by Fig. 1 and theupper ortion of Fig. 2 consist of opposite channel irons 7 boltedtogether asv at 8 and having the outer flanges of the'I- beamsprojecting from adjacent units5 held loosely within the channel irons.This same scheme is carried out in all of the bracin organizations, orthe units 6 attached to t e units 5 are utilized in various ways, oranalogous flanged devices are associated with channel irons of varioustypes in accordance with the angles at which the bracesor'connectors aredisposed.

, In Fig. 2 a part of the units 6 at the inner portions of the units 5movably engage channel irons 10 having securing flanges 11 attached toelongated braces or connectors 12, the latter being dis osed in variousangular positions relative y to the inner supporting units 5 which arein all respects similar to the units 5 and are'equipped with units 6 ofI-beam form in various positions as shown to accommodate the dispositionor particular arrangement of the braces illustrated by Fig. 2. From one'unit 5 a brace 13 may extend and be secured to a group of thechannelirons 10 adjacent to one of the supporting units 5, or two of thesesimilar braces 14 and 15 may intersect at an angle and movably engage ajunction coupling 16' strengthened by a brace or connector 23 ofsuitable length. It will be understood that all of the connections ofthese braces, or the flanged heads engaging the channel iron terminalsand junction organizations, will be free to move, or the flanged headswill be movable in the channel ironsso as to accommodate a settling ofthe parts. Again, referring to Fig. 1 and particularly to the tubes,cylinders or hollow pipes constituting the units 5, it will be seen thatthe said units have closed conical bottoms 24, and at suitableelevations within these units are T-ledges 25 to strengthen the'parts ofthe unit 5 in which they are disposed sufficiently to resist crushingstrain thereon, particularly when the said units 5 are depressed inwater of considerable depth where there is a stron pressure and prior tofilling the tubes, cylinders or hollow piles in a manner which will bepresently explained. After the tubes, cylinders or hollow piles, or theunits 5 settle, sections 27 will be secured to the upper ends thereof ofdifferent widths to accommodate the differentiation in settling movementof the said units 5 and to.

have the upper end of each unit terminate level with the upper ends ofadjacent units and also with the upper ends of the braces or connectors6 for these units.

'As shown by Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the connecting braces between the units5.may be of open structure and comprise a plurality of verticallydisposed T-beams 28 engaging intermediate channel irons 29 bolted toeach other as at 30 between these open units, the T-irons or beams 28adjacent to the units 5 being movably embracedby channel members 31secured to the units 5 .as shown by Fig. 4. Extending horizontallyacross and.

diagonally between the T-beams or irons 28 are metal braces 32terminally secured to the said beams or irons and also to each other. InFig. 3 two of these open brace structures are illustrated between eachpair of units 5, j

and in Fig. 5 a' single similar open bracing unit is show between eachpair of units 5 and is of the'same construction asthe bracing units justdescribed and has similar ref e'rence characters applied thereto.

In Fig. 6 a brace junction is illustratedand is particularly adapted forconnection to a plurality of units 5 or other bracing devices arrangedtherearound, this junction organization comprising I-beams 33 secured tothe intermediate portion of a longer I -beam 34 arranged at right anglesthereto, the outer flanged heads of these I-beams 33 and 34 beingmovably held between the between seat members 39 secured to the web ofan I-beam 40, the seat members 39 being disposed in opposed pairs andalso serving to receive angle members 41 secured on a brace or connector42 which may be suitably attached to one of the units 5 or to therbracing means. The outer flianged head or end of the I-beam 38 engageschannel irons 43 similar to the channel irons 35 hereinbefore explained.

In Fig. 8 a plurality of units 5 and 6 are shown in diagrammatic formand disposed to form an inclosure of irregular outline, it beingintended to modify an inclosure of this character as may be foundnecessary, and in some instances to construct an inlet or harbor recess44 and whereby boats may run into said recess or harbor inlet and beshielded from storms or heavy wave effects.

When n inclosure is produced as shown by Fig. 8 it may serve as the baseor foundation support for a superstructure and the wall thus roducedaround the inclosure will be fui ther strengthened by the body of waterinclosed thereby after the manner of a lagoon.

After the units 5 have been sunk in their proper positions by beingpartially filled with concrete it is proposed to fill the same withcement or concrete completely and thereby give them stability andplacement and also strengthen them to resist strain andeffectivelyperform the function forwhich they have been erected. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that the units 5 and the bracesintheir various forms generalized under the. units 6 with the severalmodifications hereinbefore explained will be applicable for variouspurweight to sink said units until the closed bottoms thereof rest uponthe sea bottom, means extending between said units having longitudinalslidable connections therewith,

whereby said tubular units may have an automatic settling movement withrelation to said means, and tubular sections of different widths appliedto the upper ends of the tubular units to give the latter a uniform toplevel.

2. In a deep sea construction comprising tubular units having innerannular ledges secured thereto for strengthening the same, meansextending between the tubular units, connecting devices between saidmeansand units permitting relative vertical movements thereof, andmaterial contained in said tubular units of sufiicient weight to sinksaid unitsto a firm foundation on the sea bottom so that in case of anirregular bottom said tubular units may have an automatic settlingmovement in relation-tosaid means.

3. A deep sea construction comprising tubular units consisting of aplurality of superposed sections, the lowermost sections being closed atone end, a filling medium for said units adapted to cause successivesections of the tubular units to sink until sufiicient sections havebeen secured together to enable the closed end to rest upon the seabottom and the upper ends of said tubular units to project above thewater level,

flanged elements secured to each section andfilling of plastic materialand said tubular units becoming a part of the completed structure.

5. A structure of the class described comprising tubular unitshaving'lowr closed ends, means extending between said units,

devices connecting said means and tubular.

units and so arranged as to permit relative vertical. movements thereof,tubular sections secured to the upper ends of the tubular units to givethe latter a uniform top level in accordance with their settlingmovements, and a filling of plastic material introduced into the tubularunitsfor sinking the same, said tubular units resting permanently'i-nposition and forming a part of the finished structure.

6. -A structure of the class described comprising tubular units,connecting units for the tubular units consisting of a plurality ofbraces with which the tubular units are slidably associated forpermitting automatic settling movements, means connecting a plurality ofsaid braces so as to permit relative vertical movements thereof, and afilling of plastic material in the tubular units for sinking said unitsto a solid foundation, at the sea bottom and forming part of thefinished structure.

7. A structure of the class described comprising tubular units,attaching means secured to said units and projecting therefrom,connecting units disposed between the tubular units and slidablyengaging said attaching means whereby the tubular and connecting unitsmay have relative vertical movements to provide for an automaticsettling movement, and a plastic. filling in the tubular units formingpart of the finished structure and of sufficient Weight to sink saidunits untilthe lower ends thereof reach the sea bottom.

8. A construction of the class described comprising, tubular units,connecting units for the tubular units consisting of brace devicesextending in various directions from the several tubular units to othersimilar units, and means connecting said brace devices and tubular unitsfor permitting relative movements thereof, and a filling medium in saidtubular units of sufficient weight to embed the lower ends of the latterin the sea bottom.

9. A construction' of the class described comprising, tubular units,connecting units,

for the tubular units, consisting of brace devices running from onetubular unit to another and intersecting, means located at theintersection of said brace devices for connecting the latter andpermitting relative vertical movements thereof, and a plastic filling insaid tubular units of sufficient weight for sinking the. latter inplace.

10. A construction of the class described comprising tubular unitsdisposed in outer alined and inner supporting groups, connecting unitsfor the tubular units consisting of brace devices extending between theseveral groups and from one unit'to another and intersecting at variousangles, and means located at the intersection for connecting the bracedevices for connecting the latter and permitting relative verticalmovements thereof, and a plastic filling material in the tubular units.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand in presence of asubscribing witness.

- WILHELM GRIESSER.

Witness CHAS. S. HYER.

